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I have one bass.

#121
I hear you. I "only" have three, but they are very different animals:
  • A passive 4-string P (my main);
  • An active 5-string with dual humbuckers;
  • An acoustic upright.
Which one I use the most depends on what project I'm most involved in at a given time. I could probably get by with just the upright and my favorite electric (I never felt the need to bring a "backup" bass at any gig either, haven't as much as broken a string in 20 years of playing), but I've had the 5-string for almost 20 years now so it has sentimental value to me. If I ever get another bass, it'll be just for the fun of trying something different.
 
#122
Drang22 said:
And that is all I want.

I bought a second bass a few months ago, and ended up sending it back. The new bass was okay, but I kept looking across the room at my old favorite bass, and it felt strangely like I was cheating on an old friend. Yes, I'm that weird.

So, I've decided I am a one bass kind of guy. Probably a bit of an anomaly on this site. Not that I don't have GAS desires when I see some of the beautiful basses that are posted hereabouts, but in the end, I'm happy with what I have, and if I fell in love with and bought another bass, I'd have to put my old favorite aside, and I find that unacceptable.

Is there something wrong with me?
Click to expand...

How many watches do you have? Because you only need one!

Or shoes? You only need two pairs.

Etc., etc..

I'm not messing with you, I completely understand your point of view, but it is a personal choice. People like having different basses, because bass playing is a passion and they want to have more, to experiment more, basically to have fun. Did you only have one toy when you were a kid?

Why collect stamps? Or coins? Or anything else?

It's human nature. As long as it doesn't get in the way of real life needs, I don't see the problem. You can't take the money with you. Might as well have some fun.
 
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#123
DigitalMan said:
Following that line of thinking no one should ever buy a life insurance policy.
Click to expand...

No, but as stated previously, people overstate the "need" for extra basses, as opposed to good old GAS, which is what it is. I would be better served with a spare drummer or jeans. See the post above this (#123).

IMHO.
 
#124
I have had 3-4 in the last year, max of two at a time, and always looking to sell one of them. Had a J, got a P, sold the J. Bought a second P to test something, figured it out, sold the second P. Bought a 5 string P, tried it for a while, say no reason to keep the 4, sold the 4 string P. And now, I am likely to order a custom bass shortly, GASP! a 5 string P!, and when it gets here the other one I have will go up for sale. I know what I like, and if money were no issue I would own a LOT of basses, but it is, so I make due.
 
#125
Drang22 said:
Yes, I play out regularly. No offense, but how often does a bass just "short out"? I just don't see it happening. When I go out to see other bands, it seems as if at least 75% of the bassists only bring one bass (unless perhaps they keep the spare backstage or in their car...). I've never even broken a string on this bass. It would be more likely to have an amp malfunction, and I am sure not going to schlep a second amp either!
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This is an interesting point that I've never thought of. I always bring two basses for OCD - in case something goes wrong with it (I still can't tell you what I expect to have happen to it!). However, in all my years of gigging, I have never considered bringing a second amp - which is much more likely to have a problem (maybe it's cuz I play Hartke and they are rock solid). Now I will either (a) stop bringing two basses or (b) obsess and be forced to buy a second amp! ;)
 
#128
Well for god sake dont start modding / building basses from kits. My wife and I were looking at the new bass im building currently and she casually asked why I kept building kits / modding guitars. I explained that it was like her hobby of making jewelry. It relaxed me and when done, I have a guitar/bass. It was then that she pointed out that once done with this one that will make 11 instruments in the rack. I was kinda taken aback hahaha. They sneak up on ya lol
 
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#130
I’ve always been a one of whatever kind of guy. I raced bicycles for many years and never had more than one at a time. I knew guys with as many as 10. I’ve shot league pool for quite a while and a few times I’ve bought a second cue with the idea that if I’m shooting like $@#% I can switch to the backup. I end up never using the second cue and make some buddy a good deal on it. I could go on for some time on my ways of possession monogamy.
 
#132
Drang22 said:
And that is all I want.

I bought a second bass a few months ago, and ended up sending it back. The new bass was okay, but I kept looking across the room at my old favorite bass, and it felt strangely like I was cheating on an old friend. Yes, I'm that weird.

So, I've decided I am a one bass kind of guy. Probably a bit of an anomaly on this site.
Click to expand...

I bought my first bass, a Jazz, and I was thus a one bass guy and it was all I ever expected to be, bass ownership-wise. Before too much time passed though, I started to zero in on the fact that the tone in my head was the P bass tone. So, I also bought a P, perhaps unfortunately with the same black with white pickguard and rosewood fretboard look. So then I was a 2 bass guy. But something felt wrong about that — for one, I wasn’t even primarily a bassist and having two just seemed over indulgent in and of itself. Added to that was that, despite one being a P and one being a J, they looked the same to my wife and even my friggin’ bandmates! No one knew or cared which bass I was playing. And although I would at times enjoy the J, I basically always wanted the P and I ended up simplifying down to the P and being a one bass guy again. That lasted many years, especially if you don’t count the two acoustic bass guitars I eventually added that were more just for funsies (two, because the first was arguably a bit of a mistake but interesting and not worth selling).

Later though, I was living and working hundreds of miles apart and needed a 2nd [electric] bass for by my work residence. And then I got really interested in short scales as my arms were having trouble and I eventually bought one. But there was this other short scale I’d seen while looking for the SS I bought that kept bugging me and I went back and...and so on, and now I have a couple of basses (8 total). But it’s mainly just 2 electrics and one acoustic that are my core stuff. The other 5 are interesting change of paces or, especially for two of them, not even necessary. I could downsize to 3 and be happy, and very easily could downsize to 5. Very easily. Very, very easily. Hmm
 
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#134
I almost always had more than one bass, but I played the same one over and over about 90% of the time, dividing the rest of that 10% left between other 4 to 5 basses. After a while I realized I had an affective link with that instrument, like people have one with their car or some object that is very important. I felt I couldn't play but that one bass and it was stopping me from getting better (than my past self).
Just like I stopped "linking" music to people (meaning I will play for a band or only to play with someone), I stopped feeling "stuck" if I didn't have that bass with me, and I'm now happier.
I go round playing my basses more and feel like my music doesn't rely on other people nor instruments, it's just me. If a band will fail I will just go on and find another one.

I'm totally happy if your bass satisfies you in every aspect, but my question is: if you got stuck one month with a completely different bass and amp for one month, would you play the same, or would the lack of your main axe influence your amount and appreciation of playing?
 
#138
Drang22 said:
Marcus Miller signature jazz.View attachment 2877604
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Honestly? With a bass like that, why would you need another?

I am also a monogamous bassist. I've had two at a time, but usually just in the transition of upgrading and selling the old. I've got plans to have a custom bass made in 2-3 years that will have everything I need, but I am not sure I could give up the bass I currently use. But even then, it would be one bass I use and one bass that sits there looking classy...
 
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#139
Drang22 said:
And that is all I want.

I bought a second bass a few months ago, and ended up sending it back. The new bass was okay, but I kept looking across the room at my old favorite bass, and it felt strangely like I was cheating on an old friend. Yes, I'm that weird.

So, I've decided I am a one bass kind of guy. Probably a bit of an anomaly on this site. Not that I don't have GAS desires when I see some of the beautiful basses that are posted hereabouts, but in the end, I'm happy with what I have, and if I fell in love with and bought another bass, I'd have to put my old favorite aside, and I find that unacceptable.

Is there something wrong with me?
Click to expand...
I love it. I used to have GAS and bought a few instruments trying to find my sound. Then I started digging into the upright and my GAS completely evaporated. Now I have one electric that I use exclusively (Fender Sting Precision) and my upright (which gets most of my time). The remaining P basses, Jazz basses and one Stingray are either on loan with friends or taking up valuable real estate in my apartment, to the dismay of my wife. And me. Mostly I feel guilty they aren’t being played. Kudos to you for only needing and wanting one instrument.
 
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#140
I usually only have one. For the last couple years it's been a roadworn P. On occasion I'll have 2 due to overlap. I have a 1 in 1 out policy, but allow them to overlap in case the new one is not to my liking after a few weeks of playing it, I can keep the one I had. I love the simplicity of 1 bass, and right now the simplicity of a Precision. That could all change at any time:)
 

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